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The Catholic Diocese of Warri has announced the death of Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Mario Ozele, Episcopal Vicar of the Ughelli Pastoral Region and Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Ughelli.

Fr. Ozele, who was aged 60, died in the early hours of Tuesday, September 15, 2026, following an illness, according to a notification issued by the Diocese.

The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Jude Nwabuokei, and addressed to all priests, religious and lay faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Warri.

The Diocese described the deceased priest as a highly revered, cherished and devoted servant of God who bore his illness with exemplary faith and courage.

“It is with profound sorrow and total submission to the will of God that I announce to you, by the directive of our Chief Shepherd, Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, the passing unto glory of our highly revered, cherished and devoted priest, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Mario Ozele,” the statement read.

The notification added that Fr. Ozele was called to eternal rest after bearing his illness with “exemplary faith and courageous resignation to the will of God his Creator.”

Until his death, the late priest served as Episcopal Vicar of the Ughelli Pastoral Region and Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Ughelli.

His leadership and pastoral service in the Ughelli Catholic community had previously been documented by the Diocese, which identified him as the Dean of Ughelli Deanery and Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

The Diocese urged its members to remember the deceased priest, his immediate family and the Church in their prayers.

“We commend his soul to the mercy of God and implore you to keep him, the Diocese, and his immediate family in your prayers,” the statement said.

It further announced that funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course.

Fr. Ozele was ordained a Catholic priest on December 12, 1992, according to records published by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria. He had served the Diocese in various pastoral and administrative capacities, including roles in evangelisation and parish ministry.

The Catholic Diocese of Warri prayed that God would grant eternal rest to the soul of the late priest.

“May his priestly soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen,” the notification concluded.

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A Christian leader, identified as Markus Musa, has been k!lled by suspected Fulani bandits in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, amid continuing reprisal attacks in parts of the area.

According to security analyst, Zagazola Makana, Musa was reportedly on his way to attend a meeting of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) when he was ambushed at about 1:30 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2026, between Rimi and Kaduno communities.

The victim was travelling on a motorcycle with his younger brother, Arum Musa, when suspected Fulani bandits attacked them.

The attackers reportedly shot Musa in the head, k!lling him, while his younger brother escaped unharmed.

The k!lling comes amid renewed tensions and reprisal attacks in Mangu, following a series of violent incidents involving farming and herding communities.

Troops of Sector 8, Sub-Sector 81, Operation ENDURING PEACE, responded to the incident and commenced fighting patrols and a manhunt for the assailants.

Security forces have continued to dominate the affected areas as efforts intensify to prevent further escalation and track down those responsible for the k!lling.

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By Gloria Ikibah

Nigeria and India have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, with trade, consular matters, education and cultural cooperation taking centre stage during talks between their foreign ministers in New Delhi.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, held bilateral discussions with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit hosted by India.

The summit is being held under the theme, “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

In a statement issued on Sunday, the minister’s Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Dr Magnus Eze, said the welfare of Nigerians living in India was among the major issues discussed by the two ministers.

A key concern was the situation of Nigerians who have overstayed their visas. Odumegwu-Ojukwu appealed to the Indian authorities for an extension of the existing amnesty arrangement to allow affected Nigerians to return home voluntarily without facing penalties.

The ministers also discussed the possibility of concluding a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.

The proposed agreement would establish a framework for the humane and orderly transfer of eligible prisoners between Nigeria and India.

On economic relations, the two sides examined opportunities for increasing trade and investment, while stressing the importance of building stronger and mutually beneficial economic partnerships.

Education and cultural exchanges also featured in the discussions, with both countries recognising the sectors as important tools for strengthening people-to-people relations.

Greater cooperation in these areas, the statement said, is expected to promote mutual understanding while creating more opportunities for citizens of Nigeria and India.

The meeting formed part of Nigeria’s efforts to use its participation in the BRICS platform to strengthen bilateral partnerships, attract greater economic opportunities and advance South-South cooperation.

Nigeria’s engagement with India comes as both countries seek to broaden their areas of cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic relations, particularly in trade, investment, education and people-to-people exchanges.